This issue of ZOR & MORE is sponsored by Jo Ann & Soli Dastur

Transcription

1 Published by THE ZOROASTRIAN ASSOCIATION OF FLORIDA Issue # 2 May 2006, Y.Z Editor: Pauli Bhadha. Editorial Staff: Jahan Daruwala, Nancy Daruwala IN THIS ISSUE: Pg. Editorial: Comments by Pauli Bhadha, Editor 1 Navroz Celebration: Reflections of ZAF, Zatambay, Orlando Area and others 2 Z Club Cultural Forum: Message from Prof. Aban Kavasmaneck 7 ZAF Donations: Pledges and Receipts A big Thank You to our Donors!! 7 ZAF Membership: Status and appeal 8 ZAF Directory Update: Address changes & new members 8 ZAF Community News: Read all about it 8 FEZANA: College Scholarship applications invited. 10 Articles of Interest: What Went Wrong (..and Some Thoughts for the Future) by Dr. Rustom Kevala 10 Udwada a web article worth exploring 13 Navjotes in Oslo Norway and Dubai 13 It Runs in the Blood Exposé on Rattan Tata & Homai Daruwalla 13 Chaiyye Hame Zarrathoshti Parsee Anthem 14 On the Lighter Side 15 ZAF Calendar: Upcoming events; please mark your calendar 16 EDITORIAL Our annual Navroze celebration was a blast with the Z-Club kids putting on a very spirited performance, entertaining us with songs and dances, ably emceed by Dustyn Shroff & Lyla Todywalla. Cyrus & Darius Irani put on a couple of hilarious skits of an inspector / tester of new gadgets. Karina Irani and Marina Antia thrilled the audience with their sweet, melodious tunes. Persis, Alexis & Cyrus Bhadha impressed the audience with their keyboard skills as they played popular tunes. Persis & Alexis Bhadha along with their guests, Roshni & Ishani Singh also delighted the audience with a Bollywood dance. The evening entertainment was brought to a grand climax with a feisty dance by all the Z-Club kids, including Zane & Stephane Todywala, Jessica & Shanaya Patel, Sara Marino, Jedd Daruwalla, Kyle Hansotia, and Kevyn Shroff with many parents joining in towards the end. Alexis Bhadha s song It s a small world after all. struck a particular chord as we bring you this issue, a Navroze special. We are deeply moved as we describe how ZAF in South Florida and our colleagues in western & central Florida and other parts of the world celebrated Nazroze in We would also like to share some inspiring news of renascent Zoroastrianism in far-away places, like Oslo and Dubai. Since a picture is worth a thousand words, we will say everything with many photographs. Pauli Bhadha, Vice-President & Editor, ZAF This issue of ZOR & MORE is sponsored by Jo Ann & Soli Dastur ZAF of 16

2 ** ZAF Navroz Function Reflections ** ZAF had a great event at the Cooper City Community Center. Thanks to the efforts and energy of Aban Kavasmaneck and the Z-Club children, the talent show was a grand success. The children participated and performed a variety of acts ranging from singing, dancing, piano-concert to a hilarious comic skit. Delicious Iranian food was also a welcome change. Thanks also to Farida Major and Nancy Daruwala for contributing Parsee style masala daal to the menu. Many thanks to Pauli Bhadha for arranging the hall booking and for logistics, Daisy Patel for the sound equipment and acting as DJ, Hovi Shroff for decorations and to Amy & Gustad Irani for the delicious falooda as well as for setting up the Haftseen table. Our anonymous donor for dessert prepared a masterfully decorated and scrumptious cake. ZAF s spirit of joyful celebration and cooperative teamwork were evident and befitting the occasion of all welcoming the spring season in our midst. Karina Cyrus & Darius Anonymous Persis Kevyn, Stephane, Jedd, Zane, Kyle, Sara, Jessica, Sh Marina Alexis Cyrus ZAF of 16

3 Emcees: Dustyn & Lyla Ishani & Roshni w Persis & Alexis DJ DJ Daisy Daisy & Hooty Hooty ZAF ladies displaying their finery Thank you, Performers, You were magnificent! ZAF of 16

4 ZATAMBAY & Central Florida Groups Celebrate Navroz Zoroastrian Association of Tampa Bay: Shiraz and Jal Irani invited all ZATAMBAY Zarathushtis for celebrating Jamshedi Navroz as well as blessing their new home in North Tampa on March 26th! 31 Zarathushtis with their spouses attended the function. Orlando & Central Florida Group: Our brethren living in the other parts of Florida celebrated Navroz at Dr. Kia Kaviani's new home on March 29th! There were about 51 Zarathushtis from Sarasota, St. Petersburg, Jacksonville, Deltona, Cape Canaveral, and Orlando. Our member Ervad Soli Dastur blessed the new home by praying Yatha Ahu Vairyos, together with a "Loban" ceremony, with Kia, Jo Ann Dastur, Yasmin and Rustom Kevala, going around in each and every room of the home with the fragrant "Loban"! ZAF of 16

5 Navroz New York At the annual parade to celebrate Navroz in New York city, the float from Azarbaijan proudly displayed the theme and poster of Zoroaster The Prophet with His message of Good Thoughts, Good Words, Good Deeds. Navroz IRAN Editor: Below is a slightly abbreviated article from the New York Time, describing how our fellow Iranians (both Zarathustis as well as non-zarathusths) see the celebration of Navroze as an important tradition of following ancient Zoroastrian customs as well as a passive form of opposition to the Ayatollah-led Iranian Government. Ayatollahs Aside, Iranians Jump for Joy at Spring by Michael Slackman, New York Times, March 20, 2006 ISFAHAN, Iran, March 19 All day and all night, the main street of this city was packed over the weekend with shoppers jockeying to buy last-minute gifts and sweets as they hurried to get ready for the celebration of the Iranian New Year, called Nowruz. Behind his cluttered desk inside an antique shop, Sayed Ali Zargabashi watched with great satisfaction as the crowds spilled off the sidewalks. "People are not listening to the regime," said Mr. Zargabashi, 63. "They are emphasizing and embracing the traditional celebrations. People want the best they can get. Their eyes are open now." After the Islamic Revolution in 1979, the ruling ayatollahs sought to stamp out many traditions, like Nowruz, a celebration with some Zoroastrian links that stretches back thousands of years to the pre-islamic era, to mark the arrival of spring. The celebration is considered by many here the most Iranian of holidays. The ayatollahs tried, and failed. Now, nearly three decades later, some people say the increasingly enthusiastic embrace of Nowruz and other ancient traditions represents a resistance against the country's more conservative religious rulers. A few days before Nowruz, for example, Iranians poured out of their homes to celebrate Chahar Shanbeh Suri, igniting fireworks and jumping over small fires set in the streets, a traditional practice intended to bring good health in the new year. Several years ago, the government decided it could not stop the practice, and set up special parks where the fires could be set. ZAF of 16

6 This year's celebration a time for family gatherings has proved especially vexing for the religious leadership as it occurs on Monday, the same day the faithful are expected to mourn the death of Imam Hussein, a figure whose defeat in battle centuries ago became a defining moment in Shiism, the dominant Islamic sect in Iran. Some clerics said in interviews that it was acceptable to observe the new year, but because the celebration was occurring on the 40th day after the anniversary of Imam Hussein's death, people should not show joy which in itself prompted giggles from some as they hurried to get ready. "I think these days, there is a silent resistance in Iran, especially among the middle class," said Hamidreza Jalaipour, a sociologist. "They are resisting not politically, but socially and culturally." Like most conflicts in a society as complex and layered as this one, the contemporary story of Nowruz is not one-sided or exclusively about resistance. It is also about accommodation. While Iran's religious leaders have followed a policy of confrontation with the West over their nation's nuclear program, they have, however grudgingly, ceded to the public's insistence on retaining, even bolstering, traditions not founded in Shiism. While it was the reformist government of former President Mohammad Khatami that decided to establish parks to hold the firejumping festivities, for example, the practice was continued this year after the election of the ideologically conservative President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. That Iran's religious leaders have accepted Nowruz, and other pre-revolution traditions like Chahar Shanbeh Suri, also demonstrates a growing degree of stability, as the country's leadership has tried to reconcile the bookends of Iranian national identity faith and culture, experts here said. At last week's Friday Prayer service, held in the sprawling open-air arena at Tehran University and broadcast nationwide, Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati, among Iran's chief enforcers of strict Islamic doctrine as head of the Guardian Council, did not mention Chahar Shanbeh Suri. He also did not mention Nowruz, though he acknowledged that recreation was good, as long as people continued to observe the laws of the Islamic republic. "In this new year," Ayatollah Jannati said from a podium high above the crowd, "God's kindness and affection should be on you. We should always observe piety and all laws decided by God. You can neither commit sin in happiness or sadness." There still exists a battlefield between those on the extremes of the debate, the ultrareligious who would like to erase elements of Iranian identity not explicitly Islamic, and others, including many in the expatriate community, who try to undermine the credibility of the Islamic government by appealing to Iranian nationalism through such traditions as Char Shanbeh Suri. The exact beginning of Nowruz the name means "New Day" is unclear, although its origin has been traced back thousands of years. In Iran, it is closely associated with the Zoroastrian faith, a monotheistic religion in which worshipers perform prayers and rituals in the presence of fire a symbol of order, truth and righteousness. Zoroastrians are said to have made the Nowruz tradition formal. Tooran Shahriari, a senior member of the Zoroastrian community in Tehran, said that the ancient calendar was divided in 12 months of 30 days each. At the end of the year, she said, the five days left over became "special days" and the basis for the celebration. In practical terms, the holiday signifies the end of winter and the start of the new growing season, and resembles a blend of New Year's Eve and Thanksgiving. In advance of the holiday, Iranians conduct an intense spring cleaning. The holiday begins at the exact moment of spring, and so on Monday Iranian families will gather in their homes at about 10 p.m. around tables set with seven symbolic dishes, each beginning with the letter S in Persian, including items like vinegar, dried fruit, garlic and sprouting seeds, which represent renewal. The holiday ends on the 13 th day with an event called Sizdah Bedar, when everyone is supposed to go out into nature, hold picnics and enjoy the early spring. In Isfahan, there was a rush to get ready for the holiday. One tradition is to buy new clothing, and tailors were busy trying to meet holiday orders. In one shop, a tailor named Akbar said that nearly half his annual business was conducted in the month before the holiday. He said he was certain Nowruz was so popular because people were rebelling against the government and its strict social codes of behavior. "They really tried to take away Nowruz from people," Akbar said as he fitted a customer with a new suit. "People are turning away from religion altogether. They are not listening to what the government is saying." He is not being completely identified to protect him from possible reprisal over his comments about religion, which is often considered a red line in this country. Not everyone shared the tailor's view. Instead, some people who identified themselves as religious said they saw no conflict with Iran's culture. "Iranians have both tradition and religion, and they both get respected in return," said Jaafar Hemmassian, 40, a baker in the center of the city as he sold piles of cream puffs and cases of confections. "All traditions of Nowruz are accepted by Islam." A few days earlier, as people gathered in a small park in Tehran to set fires and celebrate Chahar Shanbeh Suri, held on the last Wednesday of the year, many people said they were pleased that the government had finally relented and even helped to organize the occasion. "This is an important night for us, especially because this regime has finally realized that it should respect peoples' demand and let them celebrate it," said Manijeh Emadi, 54, a high-school teacher." They wanted to take away Nowruz and its traditions for 27 years! Finally they learned that this tradition has survived for hundreds of years, and it will survive them as well!" ZAF of 16

7 Z-Club Report from Prof. Aban Kavasmaneck: Can you believe that June 2006 will mark the start of the 3 rd year for the Z-Club with our Z-Club stars learning from one another to take pride in our heritage? Our Z-Club is not only a religious experience, but is also a cultural and social activity that encourages a shared interactive learning experience that empowers children to actively cultivate and enjoy the importance and value of being a Zoroastrian. The latest Z-Club accomplishments include their stellar performance at the March Navroz function, where our stars displayed their talents in a variety show, which involved dancing, music recitals, singing and a comedy act. Our young performers won accolades from everyone regarding their magnificent effort and excellence. The next Z-Club major performance event we are planning will surely surprise you at our upcoming Pateti function on September 2 nd. Please do support our children by attending and encouraging them to strive for excellence. Our children are our future and I would like to once again thank all our Z-Club parents, our Board, and our brilliant Z- Club kids for keeping our Zoroastrian heritage alive and flourishing. The Z-Club meetings for children are held the first Sunday of the month (unless it s a holiday weekend) from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. The next Z Club meeting will be at Franah & Gerry Marino s residence. Any children interested in this activity should contact Aban Kavasmaneck at (561) for program details. Editor: The children had great fun at the last Z-Club meeting at Shahnaz & Darius s residence. After a tasty meal of Chinese food (thank you Shahnaz) and a scrumptious soufflé made by Kavasmaneck, the children had great fun splashing in the pool. Be sure to bring your kids to the next Z-Club meeting and pool party; the Marinos have an even larger pool! ZAF 2006 Donations We gratefully acknowledge the generosity of the following donors: (p) = Pledged, = Received (Update: , Supercedes: ) Donors (In alphabetical order) General Fund Navroz Pateti Newsletter Other (p) (p) (p) (p) (p) C A S H Dastur, Jo Ann & Soli X #2, 2006 $101 Duara, Shahnaz & Ranjan X Hansotia, Hootokshi & Dinshaw X Hansotia, Katya & Kaizad X X Irani, Jeroo & Soli X Moraes, Roshan & Claude X Munshi, Dolly & Kersi X Panthaki, Zubin X Shroff, Hovi & Burjis X X Todywala, Lyla & Sam X X #1, 2006 Unwalla, Perry X Vazir, Sheroo & Dick X TOTAL $ GRAND TOTAL Received = $ 1,719 Additional Pledged = $ 603 ZAF of 16

8 Anonymous Daruwala, Nancy & Jahanbux Irani, Keshmira & Firdaush Shroff, Hovi & Burjis Dessert NON -CASH AGM Ghambaar (p) Picnic beverages (p) ZAF Membership There are 77 addresses (individuals living alone or households) in ZAF s mailing list. To-date, we have received membership dues from 56 addresses. If you have not renewed your dues this year, your kind support is requested. Please make your check ($50 for a household, $25 for individuals living alone and $10 for a full- time student living alone), payable to Z.A.F., and mail to Jimmy Major, Treasurer, 7169 SW 20 th Place, Davie, FL Directory Update & New Members Freni Desai: has a new address: Frenides25@aol.com. Farhad & Nina Irani: home phone # Firdaush & Keshmira Irani: have a new address: PK27enterprise@aol.com Soli & Jeroo Irani: their address should read SW 15 th St. and not 1055 SW 15 th St. Please mark the correction and we apologize for the inconvenience. Rostam & Farangis (Franny) Izedian: have recently relocated to Florida and are new members of ZAF; residing at: 2624-North Ocean Blvd., Ft. Lauderdale, FL Phone: Dr. Cyrus Kavasmaneck: is a new individual member of ZAF. Residential address: 8720 Blaze Court, Davie, FL 33328, Phone: , ckavasmaneck@yahoo.com. Rustom & Yasmin Kevala: have moved to Florida and are new members of ZAF; residing at 1932 New Bedford Drive, Sun City Center, FL Phone: , s: ruston@aol.com, yasmink@kw.com ZAF COMMUNITY NEWS Happy 50 th Birthday: Pauli Bhadha, his dear wife Kashmira and family celebrated Pauli s 50 th birthday in style. The DJ played, the children danced and sang and we all had a merry old time at he Palace restaurant hall. Thank you Kersi raja for a delicious dinner and all your hard work. ZAF of 16

9 Birthday & Graduation: Dustyn Shroff: Recently celebrated a double header graduation from high school and his eighteenth birthday. Dustyn is headed for The University of Tampa this fall and will be enrolled in the pre-med program. Physicsal Fitness: Jimmy & Freny Deboo would like to emphasize and share with our community the importance of Sports and Fit for Life for Young and Old. Jimmy works with health clubs in Boca Raton and teaches tennis to young (starting with age 8) as well as old (some amazingly 80 plus old community of Boca Raton). Recently, he has successfully completed his USPTA certification exams and wants to devote more time to his tennis teaching profession. Any one interested and/or need encouragement in tennis training, Jimmy is willing to help in his free time and give some voluntary service to our community. Thanks Jimmy you are a true champion!! In fact, it is possible to play tennis even if you are in a wheel chair. The Deboos would like to share with you an interesting article on a very recent Wheelchair Tennis in Boca Raton. Please click on ITF Tennis Wheelchair Tennis ITF Wheelchair Tennis Home Page for more details. Cooking Demonstration: Our own Jaloo auntie (Jaloo Captain) and daughter Rita Engineer demonstrated their culinary skills at the recently held fair of the Association of Indians in America (AIA) in Broward County. The recipe was Apricot Chicken Parsee Style. We were in the audience. Hmmmm.simply flavorful and superb!! Academic Achievement: Aiesha Engineer, (daughter of Kersi & Kernaaz Engineer), a Junior at the University of Central Florida, made the Dean s list at the University of Central Florida and is selected for their animation arts program. This is her 2 nd year on the Dean s list. Congratulations to Aiesha and her proud parents! Note Your input is invited: For any news items that you wish to share in the future with the community, please send a brief message to Jahanbux & Nancy Daruwala at jbdaruwala@aol.com or by mail to Point Place, Apt. 1205, Aventura, FL If necessary, it will be edited for length, clarity, consistency, format etc. for inclusion in the future newsletters. ZAF of 16

10 F.E.Z.A.N.A. College Scholarships Fedaration of Zoroastrian Associations of North America (FEZANA) once again invites applicants for college scholarships for The details are as follows: THE FEZANA SCHOLARSHIP WAS STARTED IN 1998 TO RECOGNIZE ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AND PROVIDE ZARATHUSHTI STUDENTS IN UNIVERSITY PROGRAMS FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO STUDY AT INSTITUTIONS IN THE U.S & CANADA. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: (1) US and Canada citizens or permanent residents Zarathushtis who are enrolled or applied as full-time students in a college, university or other institution in the United States or Canada. (2)Non US & Canada Zarathushtis must be enrolled in an institution for 1 year or 2 semesters. (3) Awards to recipients will be made one time only with a possibility of one renewal. The award will be effective in September of the year. Awards for the year will be determined each year. JUDGING CRITERIA: FEZANA SCHOLARSHIP: Scholastic achievement 40%, Financial need 40%, Extra Curricular activities 10%, Community service 10%. KHERADI SCHOLARSHIP for Academic Excellence: 80% FOR POST-GRADUATE STUDIES, Extra Curricular activities 10%, Community service 10%. KAPADIA SCHOLARSHIP: Scholastic achievement 30%, Financial need 50%, Extra-Curricular activities 10%, Community service 10%. APPLICATION PROCEDURE: In total, SIX copies of the completed application form and attachments must be submitted. Application forms available from the FEZANA website, however, you cannot send your application electronically. It is the responsibility of each applicant to ensure that their application is complete. Completed applications must be sent to: Dolly Dastoor, Chair FEZANA Scholarship Committee, 3765 Malo, Brossard, Quebec Canada J4Y 1B4. SELECTION CRITERIA: Applications are evaluated by a committee appointed by FEZANA and are judged on academic accomplishments, program of study, appraiser s evaluations, answers to the essay question, and general impressions from the application form. Timing: APPLICATION MUST BE POSTMARKED NO LATER THAN AUGUST 1, 2006 Articles of Interest Editos: Beow is a thought-provoking article by Dr. Rustom Kevala. Kevala is a new member of ZAF and is a past president of The Zoroastrian Association of Metropolitan Washington, Inc. ( ZAMWI). He has served as chairman of the FEZANA Publications and Congress committees and as FEZANA Treasurer. He recently retired from his engineering career and now lives in Tampa, Florida, with his wife, Yasmin. See also: What Went Wrong?..and Some Thoughts for the Future by Dr. Rustom Kevala: We cannot simply assume that the way we see things is the way things are or the way they should be. Stephen Covey At one time, Zoroastrianism was the majority religion in Persia and most of the surrounding world including what is today s Tazikistan and Azerbaijan. Why was it not able to hold its own against Islam? While Zoroastrianism almost got wiped out from the Persian lands, why did Hinduism continue to thrive in India even under ruthless Muslim rulers? And how did the Christian nations in Europe turn the tide of Muslim domination of Spain, Portugal, Russia and the Balkans? Spread of Islam: It is well known that after the initial setbacks at Quadissiya (636 AD) and Nihavand (641 AD), the then king Yazdegard s son Peroj was sent to China to get help that never came. Historical records of the 8th and 9th century report Zoroastrian settlements with fire temples and mobeds in China and Sind (1,2). But no trace of Zoroastrians remained there by the 12th century. Within ten years of the death of Prophet Muhammad, Islamic suzerainty was established throughout the Persian lands. Simultaneously, Muslim armies advanced into Egypt, Libya and Algeria. Islam entered Spain in 711 AD. The Caliphate was ZAF of 16

11 moved to Baghdad in 750 AD to allow better control over the still-rebelling Iranians. Slowly, the Iranian nobility began to convert to Islam to retain their wealth and power. They became the greatest threat to the survival of the religion in Iran and were called mawalis. (NOTE: The term Mawali does not have the negative connotations that we have today). The Pahlavi Rivayets were written in the 9 th century to prevent apostasy. The Arabs were declared as unclean, najjes (3,4). But defections to Islam continued. Many dasturs converted and removed the fire from their temples, effectively converting them into mosques. Now the Zoroastrians were called najjes. Devout Zoroastrians believed that the end of the world had come and retreated to the mountains of Kerman and arid regions of Pars. There they awaited the arrival of the Saosyant. Arrival in India: At the port city of Hormuz, a Dastur had a vision -- sail to India. A large group, including women and children, sailed to India under his command and sought sanctuary on the west coast of Gujarat. The local ruler gave them a piece of land which they named Sanjan. They became known as Parsis. Their religion was very different from the local Hindu religion. So to protect their religion, language and culture, the Parsis lived in isolation. The earliest inscriptions found at the Kanheri caves north of Mumbai, dated 1009, are in Pahlavi. As the Parsis settled into the fabric of Gujarati society, their numbers increased with continuing arrival by sea of Iranian Zarathushtis seeking asylum. Sometimes, Parsis had to come to the aid of local rulers to protect their communities against raids by Muslim invaders from the north. The Iranshah fire, which symbolized their lost sovereignty, had to be moved several times to prevent desecration. It was finally installed in its present location in Navsari (named after the city of Sari in Mazandaran) in 1419 AD. European Influences: By the 14 th century, Christian forces succeeded in expelling the Muslims from Spain and Portugal and freeing Russia from the Tatar overlords (5). The Renaissance and the Protestant movements further strengthened European civilization through constitutional reforms, advances in science, and flowering of the arts. When first the Portuguese, then the Dutch, and finally the British came to India in the 15 th century for trade, the Parsis acted as intermediaries. Clearly, this was a symbiotic relationship. The Europeans must have found some reassurance in Parsi ethics and spirit of adventure. Parsi Awakening: But soon the Parsis had a rude awakening. In 1843, John Wilson, an English missionary (after whom Wilson College in Mumbai is named), published a number of pamphlets on The Parsi Religion which disputed the prophetic mission of Zarathushtra and argued that the Vendidad was not a divine scripture worthy of recitation during holy ceremonies (6). The Parsis found that their revered dasturs were not able to counter his arguments. Influential Parsis forced the British government to assure them that missionary activities against Parsis would cease immediately. A few years later, Khershedji Rustamji Cama went to Europe to study Avesta and Pahlavi under eminent philologists. After his return in 1859, he played a pioneering role in expounding ancient Iranian scriptures in accordance with philological and scientific methods (7). But even as they began to understand what was in their scriptures, most Parsis refused to institute basic calendar reforms proposed by Khershedji Cama. Back in Iran, the remaining Zarathushtis continued to suffer discrimination, indignities, and massacres until the mid-19 th century, when their numbers were reduced to only 6,000 souls living in abject poverty (2). In 1854, the Society for the Amelioration of Conditions of the Zoroastrians in Persia sent Maneckji Limji Hataria to Iran. Indian money poured in to help build schools, temples, and housing for Zarathushtis (8). The crippling jaziya tax (levied against non-muslims) was abolished in 1882 (9). Constitutional reforms of 1907 and the relative secularization of Iranian society under the Pahlavi dynasty now provided unsurpassed opportunities. Many Zarathushtis moved to Tehran. They gained the trust of the Muslim majority, prospering in many areas: banking, construction, trade and medicine. The period of British world domination in the 19 th century enabled the Parsis to venture out and form trading colonies in Shanghai, Hong Kong, Canton, Macao, Rangoon, Singapore, Aden, Zanzibar, and British East Africa. But unfortunately for them, as soon as these nations freed themselves from British colonial power, the Zarathushtis had to flee, leaving behind all their valuable properties without any compensation. Only in Hong Kong and Singapore can we still find Zarathushti presence today. Recent Events: During a visit to Bombay in 1970, the Shah invited Parsis to come and settle back in Iran. Many hundreds took him seriously and went to Iran. But alas, with the Revolution of 1979, the glory days ended abruptly. Many Parsis did not return to India but went westward to Dubai, UK, USA and Canada. Iranian Zarathushtis and educated Muslims, some of whom had become quite wealthy, also began to leave their beloved homeland in search of religious and economic freedom. Impact on Religion: Centuries of survival without effective control over their destiny have driven Zarathushtis into everdeepening despair. We have lived under many masters Muslim Califs and mawalis in Iran; and sultans, nawabs, Mughal Shehnshahs, Hindu Rajas, and the British colonialists. To protect ourselves, we have made our religion invisible and closed to outsiders. In Iran, we have been compelled to hang portraits of Khomeini next to the portrait of Asho Zarathushtra in our holy sanctuaries. In India, we are closing many halls and properties due to disuse or lack of funding and support. Zoroastrian population in India is declining at the rate of 850 per year, not counting those who are lost to the community after marrying non-zarathushtis. ZAF of 16

12 Some Thoughts for the Future Strength in Numbers: The success of Zarathushtis in Bombay and Tehran illustrates a very real fact: a community thrives when it has the numbers to sustain businesses, support services and infrastructure within the community. Today in North America, we do have a corpus of Zarathushtis from Iran and India living together and reviving our common spirituality. But we are scattered into small communities in which communal fellowship and support are often lacking. Some individuals may go for months and years without contact with other Zarathushtis; so they might out-marry, and even convert to another religion for spiritual sustenance. Conviction of Faith: Throughout history, Zoroastrians have been an easy target for conversion to other faiths; while they have been reluctant to force others to convert to their faith. When support of the Magi and scribes was withdrawn by the Greek rulers during the Hellenistic period, the religion suffered irreparable damage. Sasanian rulers were able to ward off Christianity and other heresies by liberal support of the Mobeds who wrote the Pahlavi prayers that we use to this day. When the aristocracy and even Mobeds converted to Isalm, their subjects followed in large numbers. Religion is much more than ethical principles. Today, we have very few scholars and learned Dasturs who can interpret, teach and instill pride in our religion. Priests in North America are all part-time mobeds who need other professions to support themselves and their families. And Zoroastrian households are ill-equipped to provide religious education to their children. The Path Forward: There are a number of forces acting today that can be harnessed to our advantage: Toronto, Vancouver, Southern California, New York, Chicago, Washington DC and Houston have sizable communities and are striving to develop sustainable infrastructure. The recently established World Zarathushti Chamber of Commerce (WZCC) is a welcome addition to our business networking capabilities. We need to: Make full use of our resources (including those of the North American Mobeds Council - NAMC) to develop religious education materials, Conduct effective public relations, and motivate our youngsters to participate in community activities. Work hard to make the practice of our religion meaningful and relevant in the multifaceted tableau of the dominant faiths of the world. To accomplish this will require careful planning, cooperation between various organizations, ethnic groups and local associations; and a strong central organization. FEZANA, founded almost 20 years ago, is equipped to lead the way in North America, but it has made little progress because of the roadblocks that we ourselves are constantly creating. Zarathushtis are fiercely independent and so it is difficult to come to terms about the major issues we are facing: intermarriage, conversion, teaching materials, etc. Our Associations lack the motivation to follow a common path under FEZANA s leadership, which itself seems to lack vision. In addition, one of the major problems is lack of a permanent central facility and staff, to become a physical focal point and to do the enormous amount of work that needs to be done. With a FEZANA Building that we can touch and feel, we will at last feel confident that we are here to stay and grow and succeed. Finally, a community s (estimated to be over 25,000 souls in North America today) affairs cannot be managed by volunteers alone. We need financial resources to support a full-time staff (like the Parsi Punchayet in Mumbai) that can do justice to the needs of our growing community in North America. Bibliography 1. Hormazdyar Dastur Kayoji Mirza, "Outlines of Parsi History," Amalgamated Enterprises, Bombay, HHormazdyar K. Mirza, Zoroatrian Population in Sind in the 13 th Century, Platinum Jubilee volume, K. R. Cama Oriental Institute, Bombay, Jacob Neusner, Judaism and Zoroastrianism at the Dusk of Late Antiquity- How Two ancient Faiths Wrote Down their Great Traditions, Scholars Press, Atlanta, GA, Jamsheed K. Choksy, "Triumph over Evil -- Purity and Pollution in Zoroastrianism," Univ of Texas Press, Bernard Lewis, What Went Wrong? The Clash between Islam and Modernity in the Middle East, Oxford University Press, John Wilson, The Parsi Religion, first published, Second Edition, Vintage Books, K.R. Cama, by Jivanji Jamshedji Modi. 8. Michael Strausberg: Maneckji Limji Hataria and the Rediscovery of Ancient Iran; The Fire Within, Jamshid Soroush Soroushian Memorial Volume II, 2003 by Mehrborzin Soroushian, ISBN ZAF of 16

13 Pilgrimage to Udwada Editor: There is a beautiful article about Parsees from all over the world making a pilgrimage to our holiest Atash Behraam, Iraanshah, at Udwada, especially every Behraam Roj (day) with some beautiful photos. Please click on: Thank you Jo Ann & Soli Dastur for bringing this to our attention. Navjots of some people to Zoroastrianism in Dubai and Oslo Editor: From time to time we come across articles and pictures that we believe could be of interest to our readers. The following are the news from Oslo and Dubai. An excerpt from the announcement is reprinted below. Sedreh-pushi (Navjot) in Dubai & Oslo. arranged by Anjoman-e Bozorg Bazgasht & Zoroastrian Community of Sweden. With blessing of Ahura Mazda and cooperation of Anjuman-e Bozorg Bazgasht in Norway and Zoroastrian Community of Sweden, two group Sedreh Pushi ceremonies (Navjot) were held in Oslo and Dubai during recent days (early days of April 2006).The first ceremony took place in the capital city of Norway, Oslo where a group of seven people including five Iranian citizens and a citizen of Republic of Azerbaijan and a citizen of Afghanistan joined Zarathushti Religion. The second ceremony took place in Dubai where three Iranian citizens from Iran came to Dubai just to attend the ceremony to join Zarathushti Religion. It was a historical event that took place in an Arabian country after more then 1300 years. IT RUNS IN THE BLOOD 1. Mr. Ratan Tata During the inauguration of the Asia Society s, 16 th Asian Corporate Conference, in Mumbai on Saturday March 18, 2006, the honorable Prime Minister of India, Mr. Manmohan Singh gave a speech on Driving Global Business: India s new priorities, Asia s new Realities, and asked Ratan Tata to chair this Investment Commission. The Commission is charged with the aim of transforming Mumbai (Bombay) into a global financial center to be the bridge between Asia and the West. This is a striking repetition of history: Jamshedji Tata ( ), the patriarch of the industrial conglomerate, the house of Tatas, laid the industrial foundation of India. He was the first to start the iron & steel industry in Jamshedpur, Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore and the hydroelectric works in Lonavla. Today, the House of Tata commands over 50 companies including steel, chemicals, locomotives, power generation, commercial vehicles and locomotives, consumer goods, hotels, tourism, tea plantations and computer consultancy services. So far-reaching was his vision that India s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, called Jamshedji Tata, the One - Man Planning Commission. ZAF of 16

14 2. Ms. Homai Daruwalla Paris had traditionally run most banks in India after Independence and many continued to do so even after the major banks were nationalized by Smt. Indira Gandhi in the early seventies. But nowadays, in a serial to What went Wrong? it is hard to find any Parsis at senior positions in most banks and even at the Central Bank of India, which was often referred to as the Bawaji Bank! Hence, it is with pride and happiness that I would like to direct our readers to the December 2005 issue of Parsiana magazine, which has on the cover, Ms. Homai Daruwalla, the first woman chairperson of the Central Bank of India. Ms. Daruwala was the protégé of my father, Minocher Bhadha, at the Union Bank of India. Being the only female auditor (CPA) at Union Bank, Ms. Daruwalla not only held her own but steadily advanced, becoming chairperson at the Union Bank of India, then Executive Director of Oriental Bank of Commerce in August 2004 followed by her present appointment in June Ms. Daruwalla ruffled some feathers by suggesting that many Paris at banks lacked ambition and drive. She noted that many of them spend their entire careers at Indian banks as cashiers (tellers) giving common excuses, such as having old parents, for refusing promotions and transfers to out-of-town locations. Ms. Daruwalla s words of advice to the readers: You never know what you can do till you try Well defined goals give a sense of accomplishment While success comes from doing the right things, true satisfaction comes from doing them with excellence Success with integrity takes longer but it makes success more worthwhile I never consider myself as being a female. I know that work has to be done. My duty is to give directions and lead Chhaiye Humuy Zarthosti - The Parsi Anthem Editor: This song was originally written in Gujarati by poet Firoze Batliwala to an English tune Blue Bells of Scotland. For those not familiar with Gujarati,composer and songwriter Adi Knaga ( rustomkanga@bigpond.com now offers an English version, which can also be sung to the familiar Blue Bells melody. Thank you Hovi Shroff for forwarding this famous poem with translation. It surely arouses joy and pride every time we hear it Gujarati: Chhaiye humay Zarthosti Re Mazdayasni nek Kul jehan sathe dosti- Rakhiye nibhavye tek. Mootthi bhar aa tolo Saoo elam no sangar. Re bol bala bolo Oh, saoo nur ne nar. English: We are all Zarthostis Good Mazdayasnis we are Whole world (is) our friend Let's keep our dignity/integrity. Our Group is a handful and no more In learning still we score Its glory and its great fame Let all of us proclaim. CHORUS CHORUS O tokham Kyani! O jug mashoor! O Kyani descendants! O world-renowned O saoo sud goon ma sacchi ne bhurpoor O Truthful ones-where all virtues abound Kayem rahi jalavjo shoobh tooj no jom May ye live forever and glorious fame befall Abadi sathe jivjo Parsi kom! Live with perfection/prosperity ever, O ye Parsis all Baholi sukhavat hathe That you give in widespread charity Dechhe jugut jaher; This whole wide world doth know; Bahu chunchulai saathe With large hearted generosity Saoo vatma meher. For all, your mercy doth flow. Goozari japhao bhari Through great trials have you cleft To pun na chhodio dharam: Yet your faith has never left: Tethi muli rubiari Therefore the guidance for you is His Tej khuro chhe bharam! A Divine Blessing is this. CHORUS O tokham Kyani! O jug mashoor! O saoo sud goon ma sacchi ne bhurpoor! Kayem rahi jalavjo shoobh tooj no jom Abadi sathe jivjo Parsi kom! CHORUS O Kyani descendants! O world-renowned O Truthful ones-where all virtues abound May ye live for ever and glorious fame befall Live with perfection/prosperity ever, O ye Parsis all! ZAF of 16

15 ON THE LIGHTER SIDE Heaven and Hell In Heaven: The cooks are French, The policemen are English, The mechanics are German, The lovers are Italian, The bankers are Swiss. In Hell: The cooks are English, The policemen are German, The mechanics are French, The lovers are Swiss, The bankers are Italian. In Computer Heaven: The management is from Intel, The design and construction is done by Apple, The marketing is done by Microsoft, IBM provides the support, Gateway determines the pricing. In Computer Hell: The management is from Apple, Microsoft does design and construction, IBM handles the marketing, The support is from Gateway, Intel sets the price. Blond Jokes A highway patrolman pulled alongside a speeding car on the freeway. Glancing at the car, he was astounded to see that the blonde behind the wheel was knitting! Realizing that she was oblivious to his flashing lights and siren, the trooper cranked down his window, turned on his bullhorn and yelled, "PULL OVER!" "NO!" the blonde yelled back, "IT'S A SCARF!" Trucker A trucker came into a truck stop cafe and placed his order. He said, "I want three flat tires, a pair of headlights and a pair of running boards." The brand new blonde waitress, not wanting to appear stupid, went to the kitchen and said to the cook, "This guy out there just ordered three flat tires, a pair of headlights and a pair of running boards. What does he think this place is... an auto parts store?" "No," the cook said. "Three flat tires means three pancakes, a pair of headlights is two eggs sunny side up and running boards are 2 slices crisp bacon." "Oh, OK!" said the blonde. She thought about it for a moment and then spooned up a bowl of beans and gave it to the customer. The trucker asked, "What are the beans for, Blondie?" She replied, "I thought while you were waiting for the flat tires, headlights and running boards, you might want to gas up!" School Principal One early morning, a mother went to her sleeping son and woke him up. MOM : "Wake up, son. It's time to go to school." SON : "But why, Mama? I don't want to go to school." MOM : "Give me two reasons why you don't want to go to school." SON : "One, all the children hate me. Two, all the teachers hate me." MOM : "Oh! that's not a reason. Come on, you have to go to school." SON : "Give me two good reasons WHY I should go to school?" MOM : One, you are 52 years old and should understand your responsibilities. Two, you are the PRINCIPAL of the school. General Musharaf, Vajpayee, Aishwarya Rai and Margaret Thatcher are sitting in a train. The train suddenly goes through a tunnel and it gets completely dark. Suddenly there is a kissing sound and then a slap. The train comes out of the tunnel. Both women and Gen Musharraf are sitting there looking perplexed. Vajpayee is bent over holding his face, which is red from an apparent slap. All of them remain diplomatic and nobody says anything. Thatcher is thinking: "These Indians are all crazy after Aishwarya. Vajpayee must have tried to kiss her in the tunnel. Very proper that she slapped him" Aishwarya is thinking: "Vajpayee must have moved to kiss me, and kissed Margaret instead and got slapped" Vajpayee is thinking: "Damn it, Musharraf must have tried to kiss Aishwarya, she must have thought it was me and slapped my face" Musharraf is thinking: "If this train goes through another tunnel, I could make another kissing sound and slap Vajpayee again". Gentlemen from Punjab A gentlemen from Punjab, Mr. S, recently arrived in the US, wanting to earn some money, decides to become a 'handy-man' and starts looking for some work in an up-market colony nearby. He goes to the front door of the nearest house and asks the owner, another Indian, if he had any odd jobs for him to do. "Well, you can paint my porch," the owner says. Mr. S responds, "How about $50?" The owner says "Fine - there's a can of brown paint and brushes in the garage." The owner's wife, inside the house, overhearing the conversation says to her husband, "Does he realise that the porch goes all around the house? That's a whole day's job." The man replies, "He should; he was standing on it. Do you think he's dumb?" "No, I don't think so, stammered the wife. A short time later, Mr. S comes to the door and asks for the $50. "You've finished already?" the husband asks. "Yes," he replies, "and there was paint left over, so I gave it 2 coats." Impressed, the man reaches into his pocket for the money and hands it to him. "And by the way," the turbaned guy adds, "it's not a Porch, it's a BMW!!" ZAF of 16

16 UPCOMING Z.A.F. EVENTS PLEASE MARK YOUR CALENDAR 1. Pateti Function at Hallandale Beach Community Center Saturday, September 2 nd 2. Annual Ghambaar After Pateti; date to be announced. 3. Z-Club Cultural Forum: To be held the first Sunday of the month (unless it s a holiday weekend) from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Please call Aban Kavasmaneck ( ) for details. Please mark the following dates and host families: June 18 th Franah & Gerry Marino July 9 th Lyla & Sam Todywala August 6 th Kashmira & Pauli Bhadha September 3 Katya & Kaizad Hansotia October 1 st - TBD From: ZAF, c/o Jahanbux & Nancy Daruwala Point Place, Unit 1205 Aventura, FL ZAF Board President Khushroo Daruwalla Vice President Pauli Bhadha Secretary Jahanbux Daruwala Treasurer Jimmy Major Members-at-large Nancy Daruwala Jeroo Irani Navroj Irani Aban Kavasmaneck Hovi Shroff Youth Representative Dustyn Shroff ZAF of 16